Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the global conference on millets at Subramanian Hall, NASC Complex, IARI, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. He also unveiled a customized postal stamp as well as the memorial currency coin to symbolize the International Year of Millets being celebrated this year.
During the event, a video on millets was also released with the announcement of ICAR-IIMR as the Global Centre of Excellence.
PM Modi said while addressing the crowd, “Millets are now known as 'Shree Anna'. It's not confined to just food or agriculture. Shree Anna is now becoming a medium of complete development in India. And, India's Millet Mission will become a blessing for 2.5 crore marginal farmers. After independence, this is for the first time that a government is paying attention to the needs of millet-producing farmers”. In addition to this, he said that the organization of the global millets conference is necessary not only for global goods but also for its management.
Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture Minister and his counterparts from six other countries were also present at the event. During the inaugural ceremony, video messages from the Heads of State of Ethiopia and Guyana are also played.
The Convention of the roundtable session of agriculture ministers as well as bilateral meetings are also taking place. With the expected participation from over 100 countries and various stakeholders, the global conference is being attended virtually across the globe.
Happenings from the Event:
The Event is witnessing the participation of dignitaries such as the Assistant Director General & Regional Representative for Asia and Pacific, Piyush Goel, Mansukh Mandaviya, FAO, Geeta Phogat, Wrestler, Commonwealth Gold Medallist, Dr. Jaquelene Hughes, Director General, ICRISAT; Jong-Jin Kim, Kapil Dev, Cricketer, Chef Thomas Gugler, President, World Association of Chefs, etc., along with the esteemed audience of Padma Awardee farmers.
With a focus on millets, an exhibition cum Buyer Seller Meet (BSM) is also happening with the participation of more than 50 domestic and international buyers, exporters, importers, and processors for the promotion of millets. The exhibition of more than 100 stalls is showcasing millets and millet-based ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products by millet-based startups, exporters, and live cooking sessions by several international and national chefs.
The Conference is witnessing wider participation from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)/ Farmers Self-Help Groups, Gram Panchayats, Agri-Universities, Hotel Management Schools, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Common Service Centres (CSC), Cooperative Institutions, Indian Embassies, and Diaspora, etc.
The International Year of Millets
On March 5, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM), welcoming India's proposal. Through this declaration, the UNGA targets to raise the awareness of nutri-cereals (millets) for food security and nutrition, enhancing investment in R&D and extension, and inspiring stakeholders towards improvisation of production, productivity, and the quality of millets.
India targets to make IYM 2023 a people's movement for the overall benefit of the cultivator, consumer, and climate. To take the momentum forward, India has taken a multi-stakeholder engagement approach by involving farmers, exporters, startups, retail businesses, hotel associations, and various arms of the government in India and abroad to achieve the objectives of IYM 2023 and placing India as the 'Global Hub of Millets'.
The year 2023 is going to witness a year-long campaign and various activities nationally and globally for expanding the adoption and promotion of millets.
